Disadvantages of not changing name after marriage in India: Women in our Indian culture have the tendency to change their names after marriage, but nowadays it is their choice whether to do so or not. They also change their names for a variety of reasons, such as individualism, cultural differences, religion, etc. However, there are disadvantages of not changing name after marriage in India. After marriage, if a woman doesn’t change her name, there might be some wrong implications placed on her and this article will explain what disadvantages there can be if they don’t change their names after marriage.

Why do some women not wish to change their surname after marriage?

There are several reasons why women hesitate to change their names after marriage and these can be the Disadvantages of not changing name after marriage in India, some of the reasons are:

If they change their name, women feel they will lose their self-pride and identity.
The image they have built up with their name would be lost if they changed their name.
In all their legal documents, their maiden name has been assigned, so if they change their names, the legal documents need to be updated.
It is believed that women would not be independent if they changed their surname.

Documents needed for name change after marriage

The below documents will help women to change their name after marriage:

Identity proof of the person like an AADHAR card, PAN card, or any other legal document.
The marriage certificate
An identity of the husband that can be shown with any of the legal document
The photocopy of the wedding card.
An affidavit from the notary office.

Procedure to change surname after marriage

If you do not change your name after marriage then there are Disadvantages of not changing name after marriage in India, so women who wish to change their names after marriage should follow the below procedure.

In the first place, a person should visit their nearest notary office, get an affidavit, and mention their new and old names along with the reason for renaming.
After that, the person will have to publish two newspaper articles about their name change in two different languages. The newspaper articles that they have to publish should be in their regional language and in English.
In the end, all necessary documents will be published in the Official Gazette of India.

Disadvantages of not changing name after marriage in India

As we move into a modern world, we are becoming more modern, but in the process we are forgetting our Indian culture, and we are deviating from it. Those women who don’t change their surname after marriage and continue to live under their maiden name face certain difficulties, which are detailed in this article. So there are many Disadvantages of not changing name after marriage in India, which does not give them a legal identity when they use their husband’s name. Disadvantages are:-

It can be confusing for your children

The fact that parents have different surnames sometimes causes confusion on their children’s school forms, and then they must decide which surname they should give their child. If the other parent’s name is not attached to the child, it may also lead to certain arguments between the parents. It may also lead to confusion for their children since they won’t be able to comprehend why their parents have different surnames.

You have to give proof of your marriage

If the surname of the couples doesn’t match, then there might arise certain situations in which they have to give proof of their marriage. As if they are in a hospital and one of their spouse are badly injured then the other person has to provide the hospital with their marriage documents to give proof that they are married. All of this can add extra stress to your life so it is easier to change your name after marriage.

People will talk behind your back

As we all know about our Indian society and whatever they achieve in their life there are people whose mentality hasn’t changed even though they have become advanced in other matters but we cannot do anything about their mentality. If a woman doesn’t change her surname after marriage, people will talk behind their backs and make different types of stories which might affect their and her husband’s family reputation. But it doesn’t mean that one should do it because of society’s pressure but they should do it so that they will have peace of mind and no one can say anything to them or their in-laws.

People assume you are not married

If a woman is still using her maiden name after marriage then people assume that she is not married. It sometimes could lead to awkward situations with your husband. So to avoid all this it is better to change your name after marriage.

Conservative relatives may not be happy with your decision

Every household has relatives who are not happy with anything and are in the habit of pointing out a mistake in every work. These types of relatives will surely point out your decision of not changing your surname after marriage and they will continuously point to you and your family to make a change in your surname.

Sense of unity and belonging will be not there

By adopting their husbands’ surname, women will have a sense of belonging now they happily belong to their husbands and they know that if every door closes there will be a door that is open to them, women will find solace by adding their husband’s name and it also shows a love and respect they have for their spouse. But if they don’t change their surname a sense of unity and belonging will not be reflected in their relationship.

Even though adding a surname is a trivial matter, it is attached to many people’s emotions in our country. The entire relationship changes when a person’s surname is changed, and everyone knows who they belong to.

Despite the fact that it might seem like a small thing, in Indian culture it is considered one of the most important things, so adopting a new surname is not bad. It might be fun for some people to be called by their husband’s name now, but it does not mean the sense of individualism is gone as women still have their first name and continue to be proud.

While we understand that a name has more power, if your work is fantastic, people will know about it, and it doesn’t matter if you change your surname, your work remains yours.

Conclusion

There are so many Disadvantages of not changing name after marriage in India and it is not always important to change your name after marriage. We hope from this article women can understand the importance of changing their name after marriage so they do not have to face any Disadvantages of not changing name after marriage in India.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it mandatory for women to change their names after marriage?

No, a woman doesn’t need to change their name after marriage. They are not forced to change their name legally and it is up to them to make changes in their name.

What are some social implications of not changing names after marriage?

There are some social implications that the couple has to adhere to like they will have difficulty in introducing each other to their respective relatives, there might be some confusion, and there might be an opinion that the couple is not fully committed to each other and the woman is making a feminine statement.

Why can changing the surname be important?

First women can be free from society’s mentality, they can be safe from the confusion in legal matters like when opening a joint account, it will benefit their children, and they will get a sense of belonging they didn’t get before marriage.

What does Indian law say about changing names after marriage in any religion?

Indian law doesn’t say anything to change the name after marriage, if the woman belongs to any religion Hindu, Muslim, Sikh, etc there are no restrictions on women to change their name after marriage.

Can a woman change their last name online?

Yes, women can change their names after marriage online, there are many facilities provided online for changing names after marriage.

Can a man change their surname after marriage?

Yes, a man can also change their name after marriage.